The Prayers of the Patheon has officially started. This first event to honor the Goddess Gild. Natalia is there within the temple with various baskets and goods. Some of it is for those that have no where to live, some are for the orphans and some are for guests to honor hospitality. The woman sits on the ground sorting through various items.

Mercier are well-known as disciples of Gild. It is no surprise to see Lazarus, the head of the Mercier household at prayer. He enters unaccompanied by his usual entourage of union bosses and merchants, dressed with as much jewelry as fashionably possible. A proud representative of the wealth one can attain when one not only donates but serves the faith. He enters with a beautiful basket given to him by Princess Natalia. He approaches the platinum shrine and places the basket before Natalia with a polite bow of his head in respect to her station compared to his but he refrains from speaking, whispering a prayer to his Patron diety, Gild.


Lazarus drops Guest Hospitiality Basket Honoring Gild.

Natalia looks up and smiles at the man. She waits for the prayer to be finished before her deep blue eyes slide over him. "Master Mercier, it is good to see you. Is your soul doing well today?" Her eyes move towards the basket that is set beside her. A breath taken into her lungs and then she touches it. "Did you not like the gift to your family?"

After his quick prayer, Lazarus turns to Natalia with a smile of his own. He says to her in a hushed tone, "Likewise your highness. I live in abstinence and ritual. My soul is always in good health." Looking down at the basket, he frowns and then shakes his head with a chuckle, "I am extremely sorry, Princess Natalia. It was my understanding that this was you looking after me so that I would not have arrived empty handed. It was a beautiful gift."

Natalia laughs to that. "I didn't even think of that. I should have thought of that." Her eyes sparkle with warmth. "Gild as I hear is also a patron of guests, so I sent every family I could think of a gift basket for their guests." She touches the basket a moment and studies the man. Her eyes slide over him in a thoughtful manner. "There is no such thing as empty hands. If they are empty then they are open to receive the blessings or they are ready to work."

Lazarus is overheard praising Natalia for: For holding this charity event for Gild.

Lazarus nods slowly, "Yes, Guest Right. The fundamental understanding that as a host you must care for a guest and as guest you respect and honor that host. It is how all the foreign houses are allowed to gather in Arx and coexist." He leans to pick up the gift and sets it under his arm, "I shall keep this gift and once again apologies for my misunderstanding." Lazarus shifts from the princess, "Excuse me, your highness." And for a quick moment turns to a gild priestess giving her two notes. He says to her, "One for the temple and another for the Knights of Solace." The priestess nods to him and walks away with the notes. He turns back to Natalia.

Lazarus picks up Guest Hospitiality Basket Honoring Gild.

Natalia watches the interaction. "Do you find yourself pledging toward the Gods and patheon?" Her fingers touch the various gifts and donations that have been received. Then she reaches out to touch his arm lightly. "What is your take on hospitality to guests that enter into your home?"

Lazarus clears his throat and says to her, "Yes. The House of Mercier have been disciples of Gild since our inception many hundred years ago. As a family who's fortune is build on marriage and weddings with our wines, our plannings, and the beautiful valley of the Mercier vineyard a popular destination for noble weddings, we have had to host many guests of the couples. When you enter a host's home you are forming a pact that predates civilization. A pact that predates Gild herself."

Natalia nods her head to that as she looks interested. "Does weddings fall under Limerance though? I mean that is where we find fidality." There is a soft hmm. "After our work here. There is something I would like to discuss with you though."

Lazarus nods, "Yes, very much. Our dedication to Gild is through our business. Not the business itself." He flashes a playful smile, "I cannot think of someone who is not also a disciple of Limerance." A short chuckle escapes Lazarus' throat.

"I think that we all worship all the Gods depending on what we need and what we are going through." Natalia offers before she nods to him and then moves to create more baskets to hand out and to send out.

Lazarus nods again, "Very true." He shuffles a bit, fishing for a watch in his coat. "If you will excuse me, your highness. I must go and tend to some planned business. Thank you for hosting this charity." He gathers his belongings and turns to leave the temple.